What’s up people? There was a new AGV helmet on Valentino Rossi’s head at the Sepang MotoGP test.

Rossi has been loyal to the Italian brand for years and has worked closely with the research, development and design team and there’s no doubt that Rossi has had some input into this sleek looking new shell shape.

There was no official word from AGV about the carbon fiber lid, but, since it was free of paint and most of his trademark graphics, you can see the attention to aerodynamic sleek-ness that has been paid to the shape. No doubt at super-humid Sepang the anti-fogging and ventilation elements were given a proper work out.

Interestingly, Rossi alternated between this prototype and his regular AGV.

Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to order your copy of our new Winter/ Spring 2012 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE. Don’t worry, shipping is free!

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Aye, what’s good y’all? I finally decided to buy a racing suit and I have to admit this was something I was dreading. I’ve had temptations of buying a racing suit before, but to be perfectly honest they were all a bit too expensive for me at the time. It has been a great fortune that I’ve found a two piece leather suit priced at $199.00 that is race legal.

This two piece racing suit comes equipped with the standard dual density armor which makes it race legal. It has dual stitched main seams for tear resistance and YKK zippers throughout the suit. The Top Gear Racing suit has perforated sleeves as well as the sides of the jacket to keep the rider comfortable and cool if they ride in hot weather. I have not been able to test this aspect of the suit out because it is now turning cold in the city of San Francisco. But I can honestly say that it does its job well in keeping the rider warm with its 1.4-1.5mm of thick drum dyed, top- grain cowhide leather.

The dual density armor is removable just in case you decide to wear the suit without its armor for regular street riding and this is my favorite part of the suit as it proves its versatility. The suit also comes with velcro patches so that a person can take this suit to the track and drag knee. Overall, there is nothing special about this suit except for the fact it has an inside pocket in the jacket to carry a few items that you might have with you. But when you think about it, you won’t be needing many items if you plan to do some serious riding. The suit comes in several different colors and sizes that provide adequate protection as well as nice flexibility, along with the unique styling of your choice.

Another thing that I like about this suit is that the jacket is detachable from the pant so that you can combined them to any other leathers you have, or you can just wear the two separate for different occasions. The suit does not come with a spine protector, but you can definitely buy one and easily install it in the jacket. I also forgot to mention that this racing suit is unisex! I’m sure this is music to a lot of people’s ears as they find it hard enough to find clothes that fit their body type; be it man, woman, or child. To put it simply, the suit comes in various sizes that will accommodate your body type.

I have worn this suit only a few times, but I can honestly say that it bolsters my confidence. It is very basic but for a person on a budget, this is exactly what you are looking for. You want a suit that you feel will take care of you and will fit you just right. Not only do I feel confident in this two-piece leather suit, but it provides me with a good classic look. I turn heads while wearing this suit, and there is nothing like a race suit that is affordable and makes you look awesome.

Aight folks, this is Studdly signing off but be sure to stay tuned for more updates on more Essential Stuff.

Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to order your copy of the 2011 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE at the pre-order price for a limited time.

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Hey what’s going on guys? For today’s session of Essential Stuff, we have a pair of riding gloves sponsored by Lee Parks Design. We had the pleasure of meeting Lee at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show last week. Very cool guy! Here’s a quick overview of the DeerSport model.

The first thing I thought when I felt these gloves, was that they were super-supple. And as I put them on, I got this “creamy” feeling from the deer skin. That’s the only way I know how to describe it in words. You definitely do not get the same feeling from typical cowhide or even kangaroo leather.

Another gripe I have with typical race gloves is that you have to break them in. Rough stitching underneath all of my fingernails is not comfortable. With the Lee Parks Design DeerSport model, there is no need for that hassle.

As I mentioned in the video, all of Lee’s products are proudly handcrafted in the United States. They are all trimmed and ironed to provide unrivaled fit, comfort and dexterity. Of course, the seamless palms are the reason for the ultimate in feel without pressure points.

The dual-duty thread provides the strongest seams and won’t cut through leather like Kevlar thread. There is a double-stitched ErgoTech palm patch on each glove that doesn’t bunch up, and provides strong abrasion-resistance. The double layer elkskin backing on knuckles also provides for additional abrasion protection.

That’s it for now. Check back in a few for a follow up review after I have worn these badboys for a while.

Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to order your copy of the 2011 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE at the pre-order price for a limited time.

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Graham here with a quick update for our Essential Stuff section.

I’ve been using Sedici’s Monza jacket as my primary riding jacket on and off for about 7 months or so, and I’m sad to report that this first update is not a positive one.

The jacket’s zipper had been getting more and more finicky as the jacket got older, and it finally came apart in my hands one day, leading to a less-than-comfy ride home with my jacket flapping in the wind behind me.

Obviously, just over half a year is an appallingly short lifespan for a jacket that’s listed 300 dollars. Luckily, Cycle Gear offers a one-year warranty, even if you’ve long ago lost the original receipt as I had.

Rather than replacing the jacket, though, our local Cycle Gear store in San Francisco chose to pay for the zipper to be replaced. This would have been fine if Cycle Gear had dealt with the repair themselves. But instead, I not only had to take the jacket to the leather repair shop myself, but also pay for the 85 dollar repair out of pocket, before going back to Cycle Gear yet again to collect my reimbursement. By the time the jacket was fixed and I’d gotten my money, it had been a week. Fortunately, I have a car and don’t have to rely on my motorcycle as transportation, but for someone who exclusively rides, it could have been a real problem.

The good news, however, is that Johnson Leathers in San Francisco did a fantastic job, replacing the small, low-quality zipper that failed with a much meatier black oxide version, which not only looks better, but also is much easier to zip up.

So, in short, high marks for Johnson Leathers for their friendly attitude and great work. A passing grade to Cycle Gear San Francisco for covering the repair, but points off for how involved they made the process. Finally, I’m sorry to report, but a failing grade for the Sedici Monza jacket. Even if 300 bucks is cheap for a motorcycle jacket, it’s still far too much for something that breaks in less than a year.

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Some people want smaller helmets, like Jessica Dunn’s Proteus three-quarter folding helmet, or no helmet at all. However, Arai is bucking the trend and making larger helmets. Their new three-quarter helmet for this year is the XC and the XC-RAM. The abbreviation standing for Extended Coverage, it is in contention to be the largest three-quarter helmet ever produced and extends the lower portion more than three centimeters further forward on each side than traditional three-quarter helmets.

Available in four colors, the XC, and the upgrade model, XC-RAM, were designed for more comfort in a safer helmet, says Arai. The larger full-face helmet styled cheek pads are removable and washable. The padding at the rear of the neck is also vented to help dissipate heat buildup. The only place the XC is thinner is at the attachment for the face shield. The attachment covers are mildly sleeker than Arai’s previous three-quarter helmet. The XC has the same ventilation ports as the RX-Q line in the front as well as the rear.

The higher priced XC-RAM offers considerable improvements over the base XC model. In addition to the large removable and washable cheek pads, and the vented neck padding, the rest of the interior is padded with a removable and washable Dry-Cool moisture-wicking liner.

The enhancements are not just on the inside, the outer helmet also has a few nice features. The XC-RAM uses the ventilation ductwork from the Corsair V but includes larger vent toggles. The same slimmer face shield attachment covers are on the XC-RAM, but for further aerodynamic improvement, the top of the helmet has been fitted with a Fixed Air-Wing. Basically, a nifty spoiler to prevent the helmet from lifting off your head at high speeds.

Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to order your copy of the 2011 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE at half off the cover price for a limited time.

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Helmets are large rigid structures that are difficult to cram into most portable luggage for easy carrying. This is due in large part to their unique function of not changing volume size when being impacted from external forces. Full-face helmets take the most volume, but three-quarter helmets generally take nearly the same space.

As an innovation project candidate for the Australian 2011 James Dyson Award, the Proteus folding motorcycle helmet offers a solution to the storage and carrying problems. It starts as a normal three-quarter helmet, but through a new folding system is able to reduce its volume by 20% when not being worn. This is intended to allow it to fit in most standard sized backpacks.

The visor and mount had to be redesigned to allow the sides of the helmet to fold inward to the space a head would otherwise occupy. The protective layers of the helmet were based on the recommendations of the Australian safety standards for motorcycle helmets. This includes an expanded polystyrene foam inner shell, a lining made of a pliable material that hardens on impact, and a polycarbonate resin outer shell.

No word on colors or anticipated pricing, but even if Jessica Dunn’s entry does not win the award, you may be able to see similar innovations introduced by helmet manufactures in the future.

Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to order your copy of the 2011 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE at half off the cover price for a limited time.

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Graham here for another update of our Essential Stuff section. Last week, we showed you Sedici’s Monza motorcycle jacket, and this week we bring you the other half with Sedici’s Monza motorcycle pants.

Like the jacket, the Monza pants are made primarily from leather, ranging from between 1.2 and 1.4mm thick. While I opted for the stealthy-looking matte black option, the pants—and jacket as well—are also offered in red, white or blue color schemes for those who want something a little flashier.

For added protection and comfort while riding, the seat area uses two layers of leather, which are augmented by a memory foam coccyx pad to keep your tailbone in one piece if you go down.

Full leather pants can be hot and stuffy while riding in hot weather, but Sedici solved this problem by adding perforated leather above the knee area and stretch fabric around the crotch and on the insides of the legs.

While all this does work great to keep you cool, in colder weather it can actually keep you too cold, especially during long stints on the highway. On the positive side, I got stuck in the rain more than once in these pants, and considering that they aren’t sold as rain gear, they kept me decently warm and cozy and were no worse for wear after they dried out.

As mentioned last week, the Sedici also offers the Monza jacket and pants as a one-piece jumpsuit, but since I prefer pleasant, mellow rides rather than horrifying mountain blasts, I chose the practicality and flexibility of the two-piece version.

But in case you are someone who appreciates a good blast through the twisties, the Monza pants include plastic sliders below the knees that are held in place by Velcro and are easily changeable. Additionally, the knee area features CE approved armor, just in case. And, if you decided you want the added protection of a jumpsuit, the pants include zippers that can be sewn on to most any motorcycle jacket.

Whether you opt for the pants and jacket separately or the one-piece, you’ll only be set back about five hundred dollars, making the Monza line an affordable way to get some serious protection.

Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to order your copy of the 2011 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE at the pre-order price for a limited time.

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Hey guys, Graham here with an update for our Essential Stuff section with a review of the Sedici Monza motorcycle jacket. These are actually made by the folks over at Cycle Gear. After years of peddling other people’s gear, they have decided to come out with their own super affordable line.

The jacket is actually just half the Monza set of riding gear, matching pants are available as well—stay tuned next week for that review. Because I’m tall have a hard time finding a one-piece jumpsuit that fits
properly, I opted to go for the two-piece, pants and jacket route, but Sedici also offers the Monza set as a one piece suit if that’s more to your tastes.

The Monza jacket is primarily leather, between 1.2 and 1.4mm thick. While the jacket doesn’t have hard plastic back and chest guards like some more serious outfits do, it does have additional padding in the front and back for protection. The shoulders are also capped with plastic armor, as well as the elbows. A big plus in my book is the pre-formed moldings for the elbow pads, which makes it more comfortable to keep you arms in the riding position.

Even though the jacket is sold separately from the pants, it does include zippers that can be sewn onto any pair of motorcycle pants, giving you nearly the protection of a full suit but offering more flexibility and practicality—I often find I want to ride with the jacket, but not bother with specialized riding pants. Who wants to walk around school or work all day wearing leather?

The jacket is vented up the entire length of the inside of the arms, but personally I found this more of a drawback than a plus. For me, riding in the chilly Bay Area air, the vented arms actually keep me too cool, forcing me to wear long sleeves under the jacket—but we’ll see, maybe the summer heat will change my mind. Luckily, the jacket features a zip-out, quilted satin liner that can be removed when the temperatures rise.

Whether you prefer to ride with pants and a jacket or a jumpsuit, Sedici’s Monza line is well worth a look.

Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to order your copy of the 2011 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE at the pre-order price for a limited time.

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Hey guys, Graham here with a quick review of Alpinestars’ S-MX 5 riding boots for our Essential Stuff section.

The S-MX 5 Waterproof boots shown here are actually just one of three versions of the S-MX 5 boots that Alpinestars offers. In addition the waterproof model, a largely similar but non-waterproof version is also available, as is a women’s version. Listed for $250, the S-MX 5 Waterproof version is still the most affordable, full-height road and track boot offered by Alpinestars, although if you never ride in the rain, you can save yourself about 30 bucks by sticking to the regular versions.

When it comes to features, the boots offer the standard faire that’s come to be expected of street-bike focused boots like these. The construction is a combination of leather and synthetic materials, while the mostly smooth rubber soles offer solid grip on most sport bike pegs, and a decent grip on the ground when it’s time to dismount and walk around.

As with most riding boots, the S-MX 5s include plastic armor for the heels, ankle, and other vulnerable parts of the feet. There are also plastic toe sliders, although avid track day riders will lament the fact that they are not removable or replaceable.

Slipping on the boots on is easy, thanks to the long zipper on the side that’s complimented by Velcro flaps that are designed to work with motorcycle pants.

On the road, the boots work great, keeping my feet warm, cozy and protected regardless of the weather outside. Even in the rain, they kept my feet nice and dry even while the rest of me was not.

The only gripe I had was that while the smooth rubber soles probably work great for street bike pegs, on a enduro or dirt bike, they don’t grip the spiky metal pegs (or the muddy ground) as well as a purpose-built dirt bike boot would.

But for an all around boot, the S-MX 5—especially in waterproof guise—are a versatile and affordable option that riders can grow with.

Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to order your copy of the 2011 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE at the pre-order price for a limited time.

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Hey guys, Graham here with my first session of Essential Stuff. Today I will be giving you guys a quick review of my Z1R helmet.

I picked up this great helmet probably eight years ago now, and while this model, the ZRF-1, is no longer available, its durability and performance over those eight hard years is a testament not just to the helmet, but to the quality of the entire line of ZR1 products.

While I don’t recall the price, I know I didn’t pay more than 150 dollars for the it at my local motorcycle shop, making the price hard to beat, especially for a helmet that features SNELL-approval along with the usual DOT certification. Although it’s an entry-level piece, ZRF-1 offers a lot of features not always available for such a low price.

Many cheaper helmets have chin and forehead vents that cannot be closed, but the ZRF-1’s vents can be completely closed, as well as opened in three different positions, allowing you to let in just enough air to keep the visor fog-free without freezing your face off. There are also exit vents on the back of the helmet that help to draw air out and keep the top of your head cool.

The visor is the normal, clear affair, although when the helmet was new there were tinted ones available separately—I prefer my shades under a clear visor anyway because I hate having to swap visors to ride at night. I do appreciate how many different positions the visor will “click” into, I especially like the position that’s just a crack open to keep the fogging down.

Moving around to the inside, the padding is plush and very comfy, and even better, it still feels and looks good after years of use, as does the nicely padded chinstrap.

Stay tuned for more updates, as well as an update on my recent tumble that put both my helmet and leathers to the test, and be sure to order your copy of the 2011 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE at the pre-order price for a limited time.

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Hey, what’s going on guys? Today, I want to show you a brand new feature in a motorcycle helmet that can potential save the lives of many of us. Below, is a video showing ThermaHelm Technology in action. Ninety percent of motorcycle fatalities are a result of injury from the neck up. ThermaHelm Technology affords an accident victim endothermic (that means cold, for all you laymen out there) energy from the moment of impact. Check it out.

ThermaHelm Ltd. has developed patent pending brain cooling technology that takes crash helmet safety to an unprecedented level. Crash helmets have remained virtually unchanged for over three decades but now ThermaHelm has integrated two proven technologies to create its life-saving endothermic helmet.

In the event of a collision where single or multiple impacts are received on the safety helmet, ThermaHelm immediately activates and cools the accident victims head. This form of cold therapy helps to prevent brain swelling in the crucial minutes before emergency services might be able to arrive on the scene.

It is common practice for paramedics to apply ice packs to the heads of serious head trauma victims at the scene of an accident if able, to physically remove the helmet from the victim without causing further injury. The consequences of any delay can mean the onset of brain swelling and further damage. ThermaHelm endothermic cooling technology within the lining of a helmet helps to mitigate this problem.

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That’s it for today folks. Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to reserve your copy of the 2011 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE.

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What’s good riders? This is Africa here bringing you the scoop on the Icon Airframe Helmet for today’s session of Essential Stuff. There are various graphics to choose from for the Airframe (I have the Infernal), it’s light weight, and fits my noggin well, for a reasonable price. Check it out.

First, let’s discuss what’s good. The Icon Airframe Helmet comes with a very durable, comfortable, cushy inner lining. The helmet comes fully assembled in a nice, compact, no fuss package. There aren’t a hundred add-on pieces to worry about. It’s just pop it on and go. And the two large top air vents serve their purpose well in all weather conditions.

My complaints: If you care about how your helmet looks but are clumsy with handling it, then this helmet is not for you. The graphics chip up like a cheap paint job, and the face shield gets easily scratched. You probably noticed in the video that I like to keep the helmet on top of my gas tank. You also probably saw that the area on the helmet touching the axle nut was completely worn off.

Also if you are an avid rider, expect to lose the chin guard within a couple of months. This piece is the only annoying piece of the helmet because it detaches too easily.

However, bottom-line, you can get the Airframe between the price range of $200-$300 bucks. At that price, you get a reliable, comfortable and awesome looking helmet.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Studdly.

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Hey guys, Jon here again. During tomorrow’s Valencia MotoGP race, Jorge Lorenzo will wear this special one-off crystal-studded helmet to commemorate his world championship. Check it out.

The helmet took 96 man-hours to create. The X-Lite X802 helmet itself typically retails for $475. It was hand painted in gold and had 1,800 Swarovski crystals applied to its top in the shape of Lorenzo’s logo.

Want one? Well, Jorge Lorenzo’s championship-winning, Swarovski crystal-encrusted helmet is on sale. The lavishly decorated Nolan X-802 was listed at £10,300 by the Italian branch of Nolan Helmets. Interested buyers should email: lorenzoworldchampion@nolan.it.

For those of you who can afford it, the gold painted helmet’s 1,800 Swarovski crystals have been given a metallic coating to create a rainbow oil slick appearance. It also has the Lorenzo cross and crescent “Por Fuera” or “Outside Overtaker” symbol that has marked Lorenzo’s helmets since he earned the nickname in 2003.

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Hey, what’s going on guys? Other than the Batman and Iron Man motorcycle suits, the folks over at Universal Designs have come out with their best replica suits yet: the Tron Cycle suit.

Like all their products, the suit is fully functional and fitted with CE-certifed armor. Unlike the other two costumes, the Tron motorcycle suit is almost as sleek as the film version, which means it’s entirely black, loaded with tastefully placed reflective safety piping. But, the stripes don’t light up.

This is actually not a bad deal, considering most Dainese suits are well over a thousand dollars. And, while this is no Dainese suit, the whole lot is $995 for the Tron Cycle suit, gloves and boots.

The bad news here is that Universal Designs has limited the production run to 1000, but the upside is that sizing starts at XXS for women. Not for tiny women. Just so that regular sized women will look extra hot. You get it.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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Hi guys, the good folks over at Gimoto wants to let you know about the launch of their WAS+ race suit, the world’s first ergonomic and homologated race suit that exceeds CE EN 13595 level 2.

Rider safety has been the core focus of Gimoto for many years, with their made-to-measure production of leather suits, the most critical aspect of rider protection. Ten years ago, the Gimoto research and development center designed a homologated airbag gilet.

WAS+, developed and produced completely in Italy, is born directly from that Gimoto technical expertise and the professional skills of our team, combining in just one product the highest levels of resistance to abrasion, impact tears and seam bursting, with no compromises in rider comfort and quality of fit.

This important outcome, based on innovation in new materials, new ergonomic studies and many technical features, has also resulted in the development and introduction of a new elasticated fabric – called G-nforced™ – developed and patented directly by Gimoto and used exclusively in the WAS+ suit.

WAS+ also introduces the new 3D inner liner that gives higher breath-ability and comfort to the rider. WAS+ is available now for the 2011 season with prices from 1250,00 euro (plus delivery and taxes).

TECHNICAL FEATURES
- Cow leather (1.2 mm – 1.3 mm)
- G-nforced™ stretch panels
- Ergonomic, one-piece race cut
- CE EN 1621-1 protection inserts on shoulders, elbows, knee and hips
- Additional foam protection on legs and body
- Elasticated leather panels on shoulders, back and knees
- New 3D™ inner liner with stretch panels
- Aerodynamic hump
- Removable knee sliders
- CE EN 13595 level 2 certification .

- On Measure (made-to-measure, custom fit, personalized colors, logos, sponsors)
- Kangaroo hide
- Perforated version
- Removable inner liner
- Race Team design service

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Hey guys, it’s Jon here again. Like most of you, it’s the end of summer and back to school for me this month. Anyways, on to today’s Essential Stuff item!

I found these while I was supposed to be buying my textbooks online. The folks over at Scott Sports are proud to release the long awaited Hustle Goggles featuring the patent pending SCOTT FIT SYSTEM. Check them out.

Not only do these goggles allow for adjustment to a rider’s individual cheek shape, but they also adjust the width of each individual’s nose bridge size. The customizations are screwdriver-adjusted and should only need to be set once. Well, unless you get fat or something.

The Hustle also claims improved peripheral vision thanks to a wider aperture and incorporates all the usual goggle features like anti-fog coating on the Lexan lenses and sweat-wicking foam.

We can’t wait to test them out in person. Send on over guys! I would totally switch to an open-faced helmet so i can rock a pair of these. Full faced helmets are just to restrictive for me while riding in the city.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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What’s going on guys? Remember how excited I got by the Dark Knight motorcycle suit? Well, from the same company now comes the Iron Man Motorcycle Suit. A supposedly “screen accurate” replica of the Mark V suit Tony throws on in Monaco to battle Mickey Rourke. Check it out.

I know. Not so impressive, considering the “real” one was made of metal and CGI’d. And it is expensive too; the entire getup sets you back $1,099. But for that, you do actually get what appears to be a functional motorcycle suit. There’s CE armor, thick leather and stretch inserts that will enable you to move around your bike.

The entire suit comprises of six individual pieces. The jacket and pants are separate. And then you got the pair of gloves and boots.

According to the website, the suit have etreme form molded leather detailing, pearl red and silver aluminum metallic leather, light sensitive reflective accents, and heavy duty stretch spandex inserts.

Unfortunately the suit doesn’t collapse neatly into a brief case. It is made from grade A cowhide, breathable mesh cordura, and has a removable interior vest.

Cool enough. But I want to know is, WTF is the helmet? That’s the coolest part of the costume. Oh well, I guess I could always contact the maker of the one from the video below.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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Welcome to another session of Essential Stuff. This post is brought to you by the good folks over at Racebook.com. If you are looking for the best horse race betting online, look no further. Get the best horse racing betting bonuses at this horse racing bet racebook. Be sure to check them out. Support those who support us!

So today, I will be giving you an overview of the SHIFT Racing Redline Leather Pants sent over to us to test out. Check them out.

Like I said, the pants are made of 1.2-1.4mm premium grain dual layer leather for superior abrasion resistance and comfort. There is also perforated leather accordion panels in key flex areas for unrestricted movement.They come with removable CE approved knee armor for impact protection.

What’s cool is the semi auto lock zippers in the lower leg to retain strength and closure in the event of a crash. There is also a lycra inset panel attached to the back of the liner that ensures the liner stretch works in unison with the external accordion to avoid pressure and pulling in the cockpit.

Be sure to check these out featured in our 2011 Annual issue.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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Hey, what’s going on guys? Today, I wanted to talk about the importance of wearing proper footwear when you ride a motorcycle.

Sure, you can ride a bike in just about any shoes, but anyone who rides regularly can benefit from shoes designed specifically for motorcycling.

What type of footwear you purchase stems from what type of riding you do. For regular street use, I would recommend street riding shoes (duh). Make sure your brand has a high ankle design because it aids protection while a low-cut Achilles area allows for maximum foot flex.
Proper street riding shoes should come standard with toe protectors and toe sliders, injection moulded heel and ankle support, and abrasion resistance everywhere.

I know some of you may be tempted just to buy regular heavy duty boots for your street riding, but I can say that they will not offer the same protection in the case of an accident. While leather and rubber is durable, it just won’t stand up to the abuse that crashing doles out as well as a shoe that is designed to do just that.

Think about it this way, you would not wear running shoes while playing tennis, would you? Of course not. the court will tear right through the toes and heel areas.

If you are a track day addict or a professional racer, then I would suggest the full race boot. I really don’t have much to suggest here with out being biased to my favorite brands, but make sure they meet the highest standards. You only have two feet!

Stay tuned for more updates.

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What’s up people? Dainese has begun collecting telemetry data for a road-use airbag motorcycle suit, meaning we can expect to see a consumer product in showrooms soon.

The Dainese D-Air has actually been in development for racers for over a decade. The road system will be very similar, but will use altered data points that are more appropriate for real world riding.

It’s also unclear what the different applications for the two different airbag systems pictured above are. The one on the left is very similar to the Alpinestars TechAir in that it only covers the shoulders, neck and collarbone. The picture on the right expands the safety across the back and chest. The D-Air is designed to inflate inside a suit or jacket.

Here is a video:

Stay tuned for more updates.

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Hi guys, welcome to another session of Essential Stuff here at Inline Performance Magazine. Today I will be giving you an overview of the Women’s Dynasty gloves sent over by the good folks over at SHIFT Racing.

Just like the SHIFT Racing RPM gloves I reviewed before, the Dynasty gloves are also of the short cuff-style. However, these are made of full leather for optimal protection and abrasion resistance.

The Dynasty gloves are made to fit women’s hands specifically but these were a bit long in the fingers for me. I received a size small just like the RPM gloves, so I thought it strange that the sizing was different. However, after I grabbed the handlebars or basically balled up my hands, the gloves seemed to slide in place. Perhaps it was made this way?

Other than that the gloves are pretty standard in their safety features. They have integrated knuckle armor for impact and abrasion resistance, premium leather palms with reinforced padding, and pre-curved leather finger sidewalls to alleviate bunching.

The embossed Airprene wrist cuffs provides optimal comfort and range of movement, and the gloves secure with hook and loop wrist closure.
The thumb and finger panels are also perforated for added air flow and comfort.

These gloves are great for MX style riding or for use as a passenger, but I think I am looking next for a pair of full gauntlet style gloves for street riding. But hey, for a mere retail value of $49.95, you really can’t go wrong with these.

Sizes available: XS-L

Stay tuned for more updates.

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Welcome to another session of Essential Stuff. Today I will be reviewing the SHIFT Racing Vertex Motorcycle Jacket. Check out this $499.95 piece!

The jacket was designed for superior performance in the race position. The back is longer to cover your ass crack. LOL! Just kidding. No, really.

The stretch panels on the arms are called KorMax stretch Aramid panels for flexibility and even some abrasion resistance.

I also forgot to mention that the removable vest liner is washable. The ergonomic zipper pullers are customized for ease of use.

The best feature, I still think, is the semi-auto lock zippers in the forearms that provide strength and closure in the event of a crash.

There are also reflective black piping integrated in to numerous seams for greater night visibility.

Not too shabby!

Stay tuned for more updates. I have to go riding in my new jacket!

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Welcome to another session of Essential Stuff. Today we have the Vertex Gloves from SHIFT Racing. Always a favorite here at IPM, their products are always getting better and better. Take a look at their top of the line gloves.

Since I pretty much showed you all the features of the glove in the video, let me give you a little background on the company. SHIFT Racing is based in Morgan Hill, California. They entered the motorcycling scene back in 1997 and have grown into an international brand, producing innovative riding apparel for markets around the world.

Their target riders are those looking for something unique, so they focus on fusing the creative influences from the world of motocross and sportbike lifestyle into all of their stylish performance products.

Be sure to pick up our next issue, where we have the hottest models pimping their SHIFT Racing gear!

Stay tuned for more updates.

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Yes guys, it is exactly what it looks like. Universal Designs Ltd. has created a fully functional, Batman motorcycle suit. This hardcore leather suit is probably as close as we fanboys can get to the one from the Dark Knight.

The suit is designed in a segmented armor fashion, allowing for great ease of movement. The body armor comes with dense leather and leather-like materials, and even incorporates Kevlar in the suit. All theses bits are not exactly Batman quality materials so don’t expect to be Wu Shu-ing bad guys in it.

The bladed fins found on Batman’s sleeves are the same on the replica suit. Practical, no. Badass, definitely. Awesome, for sure!

So where can we get a suit? Well sorry to say, the suit has been sold out, but Batman boots are still available. Even the gloves are out of stock. If you can find a suit on eBay, more power to you, but Universal Designs Ltd. is done with this leather tribute to the Caped Crusader.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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What’s up people? With riding weather in full effect here in the bay, I have started to feel extremely uncomfortable in my suit and jacket these past few days. That is, it’s too damned hot.

While I am sure that it was made to go under a suit, the Dainese Jacket Wave Pro is the safest you can practically and comfortably make your upper body on the road on those really hot days.

Combining protection for the neck, chest and shoulder blades with the usual elbow/shoulder/back stuff is what makes this system special, but the aluminum honeycomb-core armor doesn’t hurt either.

Yes, I will say again, this was meant to go under your regular leathers. But on these r4eally hot days, I am glad I have another option. No, I’m not endorsing it, but I’m glad I have the option just to put this on. At my own discretion of course.

For all you out there that may feel too San Franciscan for just wearing this alone, not to worry. All of this protection is incorporated into Dainese’s high-end jackets. They are also available in component form.

Alright guys, stay tuned for more updates.

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Hey guys, and in this case especially you girls! Tired of wearing uncomfortable gear that doesn’t protect all of your parts? Well, Dainese has a solution for you.

The Italian safety gear maker has designed a chest protector just for women. Like the men’s protector, it’s designed to cushion impacts and prevent penetration (no pun intended? -Ed), protecting the ribs, lungs, heart and all the other organs in there.

Unlike the men’s protector however, the Dainese Thorax Pro Lady (the one with the straps) and the Dainese Thorax Lady are also designed not only to accommodate, but to protect breasts too. Sorry, fat dudes… The one with the straps will work underneath most jackets and leathers, but the strapless version is designed to attach to a Dainese back protector. Ladies, take it from us, your breasts are worth protecting!

Stay tuned for more updates!

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Hi guys, Paul here again for another segment of Essential Stuff. Today we have the Frank Thomas Velocita 1 Piece Suit. It features high quality full grain matte leather at 1.2 – 1.4 mm thickness, Arma-Flex CE approved armor at the shoulders, elbows and knees, with the facility to also fit at hips.

The multiple stitching throughout on all major seams insure maximum tear and abrasion resistance. The flexible stretch panels make for a pre curved sports fit. It also has an aerodynamic race hump, replaceable track knee sliders, and airflow punched leather panels for optimum rider comfort. Check it out!

These are available in men’s sizes: 38-48 and five different colors. Stay tuned for more updates!

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Hi guys! Paul here for 2010. For my first post this year, I’m going to show you a neat motorcycle helmet. This is the special edition Ruby Pavillon 10th anniversary of Nickelodeon’s wildly popular series Spongebob Squarepants helmet. Check it out!

Based on the already high-end Pavillon helmet, which includes a carbonfiber shell, and nappa lambskin lining, the Spongebob edition is available in both Europe and the USA, but only 200 will ever be produced.

It’s that exclusivity which likely explains the $1,200 price tag (regular Pavillon’s sticker for around $700). Whoo wee! But not to worry folks, if that’s too rich for you, there’s also a $180 silk Spongebob scarf!

As with wearing any helmet for extended periods of time, whether they be open faced or full faced helmets, be sure to moisturize and clean your face regularly. Be especially careful of the area on your cheeks where the helmet pads touch them. Sweat and grime and accumulate and clog your pores. I found that nuskin products are pretty good. Check out their Twitter page for quality information about quality skin and hair products.

Anyways, happy new year and, as always stay tuned for more updates!

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What’s up people? Here’s another item, we can’t get in the U.S. Created as a limited run in Italy, these Arai Vector helmets use a retro-reflective paint to increase safety at night.

It is obvious that reflective clothing and helmets increase safety at night, but they’re often not used because they make you look like a dork.

However, paint like this, is available from 3M and many other companies here in the States. While these could be incorporated into helmet designs straight from the factory with little to no effect on their daytime looks, it’s just not done here for some reason. We just hope to see better integrated designs than these lame looking flames in the future.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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The latest addition to my motorcycle wardrobe comes this week in a pair of stylin’ Olympia Ranger 2 riding pants. Over the next few months, I’ll be testing these suckers out and, against a basic price-vs-quality criteria, letting you know if they’re worth the MSRP $199.99 investment.

For now, some early observations:

The Olympia Ranger 2’s are, to me, just like those freaky Aeron office chairs that hit the market a few years back. They look alien and uncomfortable, and even after a few minutes you’re not sure if these things are all they’re cracked up to be. But soon, as it begins to dawn on you that there’s something more to the package than unsettling looks, you become vaguely aware that these pants – like those ultra-ergonomic Aeron chairs – know more about your body than you do.

Rugged Cordura material with tough stitching and plenty of padding make these pants, first and foremost, safer than any plainclothes alternative when it comes to asphalt surfing. This safety should be the buyer’s number one priority.

Everything else boils down to user friendliness. The pants are waterproof and windproof, yet comfortably breathable. Any seam that might let moisture in has been protected by extra material (which is to say the fly doesn’t leak); meanwhile, the pants come with an eight-inch jacket attachment zipper in back, for those of you out there who regularly ride through monsoons….

The four oversized pockets up top and a bellows pocket on each thigh are big enough to get your hands into with your gloves on. I know! Science, right? Try that in a pair of leathers. The Ranger 2’s also unzip all the way up to the waist, although having only recently learned to tie my shoes by myself, I rarely bother with this feature. (Buyer’s tip: the first time you try zipping the pants back on, don’t do it in public.) And while the pants do come with a decent liner, I find I like wearing my jeans a lot more.

On the bike, the Ranger 2’s are roomy and comfortable, cool enough despite the weatherproofing that you can wear them on days when you wouldn’t even look at your leathers.

Ultimately, it’s important to keep in mind that these are general-purpose riding pants, and to that end they’ve performed well so far. Certainly, they’re bulky, but to me, these $200 pants do two things: spare you the four- to eight-week recovery time from a heartfelt low-side wipeout (and all wipeouts are heartfelt). And they remind you to ride like your skin is on the line. Fair play, Olympia.

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